Telegraph-key



(No Model.)

, E. G. STEVENS.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

No. 275,433. Patented Apr. 10,1883.

u PETERS. mwmhh n w. Washington, cu:

UNIT D STATES PATENT FFICE,

EDGAR Gr. STEVENS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,433, dated April 10, 1883.

7 Application filed August 4,1ss2. N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

made to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to electric keys, such as are usually employed in transmitting telegraphic dispatches; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a key which shall connect the circuit by means of removable platinum point-s held-in the ends of screws-one near the end of the key-lever, pointing upward, and the other near the end of an arch, thus forming, as it were, the anvil upon the operating-lever and the stationary point above the lever. This point above the lever is adjustably fixed in an arch which is insulated from its point of attachment with the base, and is formed in one piece with one of the binding-posts. The arch has,owing to its form, a very slight spring, and the arrangement obviates the unyielding concussion which results from the ordinary construction of keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lever for closing the circuit when the implement is not in use, said lever being pivoted to the base at or near the center, having a handle convenient to the lever-knob at one end, its opposite end operating under a plate secured to the binding-post upon which is formed the arch aforesaid, said operation serving to effectually open or close the circuit when desired.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the operating-lever, having finger-plate a, and being pivoted upon the bar B in the posts M, which form a part of the base A. A spiral or other spring, 0, is placed under the lever, between its pivoted point and the finger-plate, and this spring may be adjusted as to force, and loss of force taken up by a set-screw, 0, having a proper jam-nut.

D represents one of the binding-posts, having formed in one therewith an arch, l), which, extending inward until its end reaches a point above the free end of the lever, is provided with a seat, d, for the jam-nut d of the screw 61, which, passing through the arch, has its lower end provided with the platinum point I), as shown. The other or contacting platinum point, 12, is held in the upperend or head of a screw, a, which passes through the free end of the lever A from the top downward, and

has a proper set orjam nut to regulate its adjustment in the lever, as shown. This arrangement brings the points I) I) in proper line, and their juxtaposition, to determine length ot' stroke, &c is readily adjusted by the screws d a, as is obvious.

F represents the circuit-closing lever, which is pivoted at or near the center to the base A, while to break the circuit its free end F passes from under the platef, secured under the hinding-post D. When the key is not in use, the circuit is closed by passing the free end of lever F- under the plate. A circuit-closer thus constructed is very efficient, gives greater leverage, and operates directly under the hinding-post, thereby enabling its movements to be more easily made and to be more reliable than heretofore.

The operation of the construction is obvious, and the essential features of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawlugs.

Iain awarethatitisnotnew with mc,broadly, to have the contacting stroke of the lever A, which makes the circuit, made upward; but

' I have no knowledge that the spring-arch made in one piece with one of the binding-posts was ever before used to support the object platinum point.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In combination with the insulated bindingpost D and arch D, formed in one piece, the This specification signed and witnessed this latter having seat; (I, screw d, and point 1), 23d day of June, 1882.

the key-lever A, having screw a and point b,

and circuit-closer F, pivoted centrally to base EDGAR G. STEVENS. A, and operating by its free end F with plate f and binding-post D, all constructed, ar- Witnesses:

ranged, and opel'atingas and for the purposes GEO. O. TRACY, set forth. GEORGE H. SCHWAN. 

